The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1887-11-11
RUSSIAN oEspor,sm.

4
RUSSIAN pEsPoTlsM.
An American Tourlsrs lmprose1ons - the
CsaFs Oovesnmsst.
II can not be denied that In some re-
spects Russia Il the greatest and most
powerful nation in the world, is ter
ritory and its population being greater
than that Of any other on the globe. u |
occupies more than onc-half the area |
Of Europe. and its vast possessions In 4!
Asia are three times greater than in
Europe. II Is gigantic wonder
among nations with its 6.00o.OO0 Of
square miles Of territory, its 100. 00o.-
600 Of inhabitants and its grand army
Of 100000 men. But about and
around all this glory and greatness
hangs rather the barbaric splendor Of
| the Oriental than the culture and prog
ress Of the European. The whole
country IL an armed camp. and At
every step and every turn il soldier
in his long gray coat and broad
crowned cap. and IN this connection i
may be mentioned that the cap is the
usual head covering in Russia. and
hats are seldom seen. Travelling IN
Russia has many unpleasant features.
and one has the feeling. always. that
he is not wanted and that he Is con-
stantly being watched in al his move
mcnts, and the chances strongly are.
that he Is right in both these suppose
tons. The Government is very strict
in all its dealings with foreigners
and no one Is admitted TO the
country without passport which has
been vised BY some Russian Consul.
And whenever the traveller arrives In
any city or stopping place his passport
must be Immediately surrendered q
the authorities. II il not returned un'
til his departure. and he il not allowed
| 70 leave the country without permit
/ written on the back Of his passport
Mine was taken from me SO frequently
examined and duly stamped, and fe'
, always charged for it, that ! regard
! a. about the most expensive documen
/ | ever possessed. You never know y
Russia likewise who reads your letter
/ before you get them or after You mai
I them. aud no foreign newspapers ar
! delivered until after the authoritie
. have read them and blotted out tn
J Objectionable passages with hcav,
/ black ink 80 that they can not be read
! There is no liberty Of speech or free
4 dom Of action. The Gar Is absolute
4 and tyranny and oppression reig
= everywhere. In such country II
& not strange that Nihilism hourishe
Z and II there il any excuse for the Nihi
i ist anywhere. il Is here in Russia, an
4 | | can well comprehend that > ma
might be Nihilist here, who in %
= other country would be aconstitution'
! aeitator and advocate. The policy
: the Government practically prohibi'
q any middle ground, and drives man
Z men finally into Nihilism. WI
! would otherwise be patriots. workin
I. out the salvation Of their country
peaccable methods. Scarcely any OF
IN Russia speaks English. and the r
glishman is viewed with great d
favor, all realizing that il Is only
q question OF few years when the tv
q countries will be At war with cas
I. other. / always took especial pail
- 10 let Il be known that I was m Anne
- lean, and not an Englishman; Fren'
is spoken almost entirely In the hous
Il 81 the aristocracy, and is usually q
- language Of the home among thcI
~ rather than the harsh and irregui
~ Russian. but the masses are mo
= familiar with German than any 9th
- foreign language, natural result
the proximity Of the two countrit
- As Russia is different In every thin
q; 50 her coinage and measures Of d
: tances do not correspond with the
= Of other European governments. "
ne tanccs are measured by 'verst
m (two-thirds Of mile), and ''arshin
- Twenty inches). and the coinage
'ot divided into troubles" and -
NJ pecks." The kopcck l. about o.
~ half cent Of our money, while
ne' present paper roublc equals n
A. cents. The silver roublc il VOL
"s more. but coin il practically driv
: out Of circulation now, rs the count
~ Is IN a terrible financial condition. =
ar Is suffering all the evils q q badly
- preciatcd and inflated paper currcn'
~ Cor. indianapolis Sentinel.
~ SsS
e" Expansion Of Bridges.
~. A good deal had been said about
out effects Of expansion and contraction
nk- connection with the Forth Bridge,
Get TO changes Of temperature.
. l Baker. one Of the engineers reccn